• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Inspired By Nick

be good to your body

  • Home
  • Nourish
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
    • Brunch
    • Vegan
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Home
    • Events
  • Food For Thought
    • Seven Moments
    • The Low Down
  • About Nick

Why There’s No Such Thing as a Healthy Tan

January 14, 2019 by Nick Joly Leave a Comment

why-theres-no-such-thing-as-healthy-tan

A few years ago, I was traveling across Portugal with a close friend. We went, we saw, we conquered. Being on vacation, beach bum status was in full swing, and our tanning competition was on like donkey kong. Whoever could come back from the trip looking dark AF would win. (Raise your hand if you’re guilty). Every morning we would scout for the perfect spot: maximum sun exposure + proximity to water. On the flight home we compared shades of brown and olive skin tones, and even asked the flight attendants who they thought was darker. 

Within a week of being back home, the tan faded, skin peeled, burn burned, and we were both suffering. In hindsight, my only thought is WTF was I thinking? Admittedly, the sun can leave many of us with a coveted darker shade of skin. And while our bodies can absorb some of the sun’s benefits like Vitamin D, they can come with consequences. Since then, I’ve done the research, put balance into practice, and have reaped the rewards of the all the beautiful solar solstice has to offer us. Here’s some food for thought, in hopes that you learn from my mistakes.  

– nick 

There is no such thing as a healthy tan. 

Here’s why: 

When our skin tans, our bodies are actually putting up a defence mechanism in an effort to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. 

I.e., tanning = protection against the sun. 

With that said, it’s important to note that the sun’s rays are composed of two types of light; visible bright light, and non-visible UV light. 

Our bodies can benefit from both types of light, but only in moderation. 

Visible Bright Light 

  • Has been shown to serve as an effective antidepressant against seasonal and non-seasonal depression, 
  • Can help remedy certain sleep disorders, 
  • Can help rebalance our circadian rhythms (the body’s internal clock),  
  • And has been proven to help reduce stress levels. 

This type of bright light is visible to the naked eye, and has an effect on our circadian rhythms in that it signals to our brains that light means daytime and darkness means nighttime. Gaining exposure to this light in the mornings, and reducing it in the evening can help keep our circadian rhythms in tune. 

Don’t underestimate the effects of the placebo. 

At night, the bright lights from our devices have have been shown to throw our circadian rhythms off balance. So reducing the amount of bright light our eyes take in before bed can help us better fall asleep and stay asleep. 

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

This type of light, on the other hand, is invisible to the human eye, and yet, is essential to the human body’s ability of producing Vitamin D. 

Prolonged exposure to UV light on the skin, however, can lead to sunburn, some types of skin cancer, and temporary + permanent skin damage. Increased UV ray exposure to the eyes can even lead to increased risks of cataracts. 

I’m not saying to avoid the sun like it’s the plague — our bodies need it. 

Vitamin D 

  • When we absorb the sun’s UV light through the skin, our bodies begin to produce Vitamin D3.

Essential to our health, Vitamin D is a vitamin that gets stored in our bodies’ fatty tissues, and helps us better absorb calcium. Studies now show that adequate amounts of Vitamin D can reduce risks of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The National Institutes of Health recommends about 10-15 minutes of sun exposure, three times weekly. 

That’s ultimately what it comes down to; moderation, not deprivation. 

In my honest opinion, I think that it is tough to get the recommended daily amounts of Vitamin D strictly from diet. The fact is, there are few foods that are rich in Vitamin D, yet prevalent in our diets. Supplements are always an option, though, some studies show that they don’t give the same benefits to the body that minimal interval sun exposure does. 

To me, the “right amount” of sun exposure means the amount before the skin starts to tan. Once tanning occurs, our body is protecting itself from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays and radiation. Hence there being no such thing as a healthy tan. 

Non-Toxic sunscreen and UVA / UVB protection. 

Protection again this type of exposure is critical. I’ve experienced the effects firsthand, and have read studies on how it’s turned out worse for others. But at the same token, I also don’t want to slather chemicals all over my body for the days where I’m spending more than 15 minutes in the sun. 

Here’s a link to a guide from the folks over at goop, on how to be discerning in the non-toxic sunscreen market. 

Some of my faves are: 

  • Beautycounter
  • Juice Beauty – for body 
  • Suntegrity 

Why protect from sun damage but welcome chemical damage? 

Using a toxin-free product that’s right for your skin type, helps ensure that your skin and body aren’t suffering from harmful chemical effects. This could include anything from throwing our hormone levels off balance, to affecting our metabolisms, and potentially even our reproductive systems. 

inspired-by-nick-no-such-thing-as-healthy-tan


Nick Joly | Inspired by Nick
be good to your body
inspiredbynick.com 

 

 

The views expressed on this website and all related Inspired by Nick social media channels are the personal views of founder & editor, Nick Joly. These views are for informational purposes only, even in cases of sponsored content. Nick Joly shares all information in good faith. The intention of any and all content produced for this website, for YouTube, and for any related social media channel, is not to be interpreted as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Inspired by Nick is a personal blog, and should not be relied upon for specific medical advice. 

 

 

photos obtained under a creative commons license, from unsplash. 

Filed Under: Food For Thought, Health & Fitness, Skincare, The Low Down Tagged With: Chemical Free Sunscreen, Healthy Skin, Inspired By Nick, No Healthy Tans, Non-Toxic Skincare, Skincare

Previous Post: « Achieving Mental Clarity + Putting Mindfulness into Practice
Next Post: The Value of Having In-Home Medical Services »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT NICK

inspired by nick blog profile photo

Hey there! Welcome to Inspired by Nick, a space where I share inspiration on food, health & lifestyle. Stay for a while, have a read, and say hello if you like!

INSTAGRAMS

inspiredbynick

serving you post-workout sweat and redness realnes serving you post-workout sweat and redness realness rn 💪🏼🥵💦 and I just got these super convenient deodorant wipes from @forwardwithdesign for when I have to jump from lunchtime workouts to a zoom call during the week 🤫 now you know my secret! 😂 AD #forwardwithdesign #inspiredbynick
There’s 4587 inches of snow outside but I’m ju There’s 4587 inches of snow outside but I’m just gonna focus on the fact that at least it’s sunny ☀️ and I can seek warmth from my little #oatbowl topped with all the fixins: fresh berries🫐, peanut butter, banana 🍌, @royal_nuts chopped walnuts and a sprinkle @organictraditions prebiotic sorghum cereal, and coconut flakes 🥥 topped on  @bobsredmill organic oats 🙃 #oatmealbowl #oatsforbreakfast #inspiredbynick
Patio season is gonna hit different this year and Patio season is gonna hit different this year and I’ll be ready to pounce! 🐆🐾🥂☀️
Grocery shopping but 'leveled up' 💁🏻‍♂️🍄 y’all know that food shopping is basically my favourite hobby 😂. Over the past few weeks, I’ve told you about #MyHealthMyChoices by @MetroOntario and now I’m gonna show you just how easy it is to sort and find foods you love, while fitting within your dietary needs.
—
I always start in produce (naturally) and then jump straight to organic aisles for my fav snacks. Using the green labels in-store, I can identify (at a quick glance) which products are plant-based, vegan, or gluten-free. The My Health, My Choices program also allows me to scan product barcodes using the MyMetro app and search for exactly what I need, taking the whole experience to the next level 🙌🏼 ➡️ Swipe to see my shopping experience and what items I picked up at my local Metro. #Sponsored #MyMetro #Inspiredbynick
we’ve moved into our home 🏡 and we’re still we’ve moved into our home 🏡 and we’re still taking time to settle in. there are some projects we wanna get done asap but can’t due to lockdown, so we’re just gonna go with the flow and enjoy the ride together 👬🏻 ps, that photo is from 9 years ago on one of our first dates
When you’re craving a burger but you also want a When you’re craving a burger but you also want a #meatless option 🙌🏼🍔 Organic Black Bean Fiesta Burgers made by yours truly 🍔💁🏻‍♂️when I was vegan I really had to get creative with a lot of my recipes, otherwise I’d be eating the same old bean salad every day… and bean salad doesn’t really taste like a burger when you’re craving a burger! Even though I’m not fully vegan anymore, I do still like to swap out meat as much as possible with other #plantbased options because that’s what works for me! 
With @metroontario's new program, MyHealth, MyChoices finding products that suit your dietary needs and lifestyles couldn't be easier. With almost 9,000 products labelled with nearly 50 different attributes like plant-based, fat-free, non-GMO, etc., you can easily find what works for you. So for this recipe, I looked for the green labels in-store, found the perfect Irresistibles organic black beans and extra virgin olive oil and whipped up a batch of patties that my heartmate and I devoured! (Tip: they also freeze well)! The recipe for them is on my blog (link in bio) and on Metro’s Instagram page and website! Hope you enjoy these if you decide to make them! #inspiredbynick  #MyHealthMyChoices #mymetro #sponsored
Monday? Too ruff for me... Wake me up when it’s Monday? Too ruff for me... Wake me up when it’s the weekend please and thank you! 🐕🐾 #pawsup #rufflife
I hope our paths croissant again 🥐😂 the best I hope our paths croissant again 🥐😂 the best almond croissants from gourmet privilège 🥰 #nationalcroissantday
At-home yoga for the winnn! 🧘🏻‍♂️🌿✨ because even though supporting my local yoga studio looks different now than in the past (classes are all online or through their app), I can still feel good about being a paying member and doing a small part to #supportlocal. 
-
I am not THE poster child for supporting local, that’s just the truth, but I do what I can, where I can. Honestly, I do miss being in the hot studio where after a class I would be drenched and feeling so accomplished, ironically though, I’m surprisingly still drenched after a 90 min class at home, more so than I thought I would be! So I still feel good about getting my workout in, even if it’s different than being there in person. 
- 
Anyone who does yoga regularly like me knows a wet bag is essential after a good flow. The team at @forwardwithdesign have this awesome bag (I link to it in my stories) that I love--it’s super practical and I love the cute print! While I’m not getting as much use out of it as I’d like right now, it will definitely be coming with me to the studio when some of our restrictions lift and small businesses open up again!! AD #ForwardWithDesign #ThatsFWDThinking  #InspiredbyNick
I really miss having people over for charcuterie b I really miss having people over for charcuterie boards and drinks 🕺🏻🍸🥑🧀🥕🫒 and am LONGING for the days when I can host a dinner party again! Tagged a few of the brands of foods on this board, including @miyokoscreamery’s #vegancheese which was to die forrrrr! 🙌🏼✨ happy Friday Junior. y’all! 
On the board: 
Dark chocolate 
Organic berries 
Mixed olives 
Mixed nuts - cashews, pecans, almonds 
Breadsticks 
Crackers 
Rainbow carrots
Vegan party platter hors d’oeuvres
Figs (obvi) 
And a spicy chutney!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

MY WEIGHT LOSS + FITNESS JOURNEY

personal weight loss how I lost 100 pounds

How I Lost 100+ lbs and Changed My Life

Read my story

SUBSCRIBE

💌 Say hello!

PO Box 40549
Kirkland, Montreal, QC. 
H9H-5G8

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress